Flood problems are mounting in Walsh County after nearly 5 inches of rain fell near Park River, N.D., from Thursday to Friday morning.
More rain and a report of a tornado Friday afternoon caused other problems for Grafton, N.D.
Grafton received 1.5 inches during the Thursday night storm, but added another 3.5 inches in a matter of three hours Friday afternoon, according to Walsh County Emergency Manager Brent Nelson.
No damage from the tornado was reported, but the rain left Grafton's streets flooded.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the entire county until 1 p.m. Saturday.
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In Park River, Briggs Avenue, the town's main street, as well as other streets were flooded Friday morning, though water receded from the streets as the day progressed.
"The town's being overwhelmed by runoff," Nelson said.
The weather service said rainfall reports are as high as 4.85 inches from the storms that moved through overnight Thursday. Areas between Grafton, and Park River reported about 3 inches of rain.
Other unofficial rain totals included 5 inches near Lankin, N.D., and 4.5 inches in the Park River-Pisek area.
Runoff from the excessive rainfall is likely to cause flooding to occur in several Walsh County communities, including Park River, Grafton, Minto, Adams, Conway, Edinburg and Fairdale, according to the weather service.
Other problems
In Park River, a town of 1,400, the flood also caused some sewer back-up problems, according to Nelson.
Several streets were blocked off Friday morning, but were reopened by the afternoon, he said.
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It rained sporadically throughout the region on Thursday. The first of several heavy overnight rains hit the Park River area between 10 and 11 p.m. Thursday, according to Nelson.
Two county roads were closed Friday morning. They are Walsh County Road 12 B, which runs southwest of Park River, and Walsh County Road 19, northwest of Fordville, N.D.
The Park River at Homme Dam, just west of Park River, rose about one foot Thursday.
Nelson said he expects both the Park River in Grafton and the Forest River in Minto, N.D., to approach flood stage again as the runoff moves through the system.
Water conservation
Meanwhile, residents in Minto, Grafton and Adams, N.D., and Oslo, Minn., are asked to limit their water use throughout the weekend.
According to city officials, lift stations in those towns have been having some difficulties keeping up with the volume of water from recent rains.
Officials also are asking residents to redirect their sump pumps outside their houses and into the storm sewer systems. Running sump pumps to sanitary sewer systems can overtax lift stations.
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"We're not having any real problems. We're just taking precautions," Oslo Mayor Scott Kosmatka said.
Oslo has received just more than 2 inches of rain since Thursday morning.
Renwick Dam
While floodwaters are plaguing Walsh County, neighboring Pembina County is facing no imminent flood threat.
Lake Renwick was at 977 feet Friday morning, 11 feet below its peak level last week, when it threatened an emergency spillway. Cavalier, N.D., a city of 1,300 about 7 miles east of the dam, was evacuated for two-and-a-half days last week.
"Currently, there is no reason for concern," Pembina County Assistant Emergency Manager Monica Brusseau said in a news release. "At this time, the dam is functioning well and is being monitored by Natural Resource Conservation Service staff."
Staff writer Brandi Jewett contributed to this story.
Call Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1110; or send email to kbonham@gfherald.com .
